Merlyn Grace Terry

Merlyn G. “Mickey” Terry, 91, passed away Thursday, November 21, 2013, in Richland Hills, TX. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 30, 2013, at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Faith, 5701 Hwy 277 South, Abilene, TX with Rev. David Romanik officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park Cemetery, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at a visitation from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Merlyn was born September 21, 1922 in Shafter, Texas to the late Earl L. and Madolyn Lora Drake Mattes. She was the second daughter of four children. Her parents moved to Abilene to further their children’s education because the schools were the best in the state at that time. Merlyn attended public schools, graduated from Abilene High School in 1940, and also attended Abilene Commercial College. She married Kenneth C. Terry on June 1, 1941 in Abilene and together they raised four lovely children. They moved to Del Valle, TX in 1986.

Merlyn was raised Episcopalian and was a member of the Church of the Heavenly Rest where she sang in the choir, belonged to St. Margaret’s Guild, and worked in St. Margaret’s Bookshop for 20 years. She was active in Sunday School and served twice as Worthy Matron of the River Oaks Order of Eastern Star as well as many other offices, she was also active in Royal Neighbors of America and the Social Order of Beauceant.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Kenneth Cade Terry; and her brother, Robert E. Mattes.

Survivors include one son, Kenneth C. Terry, Jr. and wife, Gretchen of Fallbrook, CA; three daughters, Sandra Lynn Johnson and husband, Neal of Austin, TX, Barbara Ann Anderson and husband, L.D. of Del Valle, TX, and Katherine C. Owens and husband, Russell of Haltom City, TX; a sister, Nadea Rae Hartman of Tulsa, OK; a cousin, Emily Troutman of Bernville, PA; eleven grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; four nieces, and two nephews.